Rompaway Wally upsets in Mack Lobell preview

Dismissed at odds of 22-1 despite prevailing in seven of his last nine starts, Northville Downs invader Rompaway Wally rewarded his diminutive legion of followers with an upset victory in the $20,000 Mack Lobell Trotting Series Preview at Pompano Park on Monday, covering the mile in 1:56.

Driven from post seven in the 11-horse field by trainer Don Harmon, Rompaway Wally was parked in third through an opening quarter mile in :28.1, before clearing the front as the trotters marched by the grandstand for the first time and reaching the half-mile marker in :57.1.

As the feature-race field made their journey down the backstretch, Buck I St. Pat (Ricky Macomber Jr.), the lone mare in the field, made a commanding bid to claim the top spot, leaving Rompaway Willy to track from the pocket through a three-quarters split in 1:26.3.

The daughter of Jailhouse Jesse entered the lane with a 1 ½-length advantage, and remained in control of the race until mid-stretch, when Rompaway Wally was angled off the pylons to make his second move of the mile, getting up in the final yards to prevail by a head.

Rompaway Wally returned $46.20, $14.20, and $9.20 for the victory. Buck I St. Pat paid $2.80 and $2.10 for second, while Fox Valley Cayenne (Anthony Napolitano) brought in $13.80 for third.

Owned by Rompaway Farms Inc. of Battle Creek, Mich., Rompaway Wally is a 7-year-old son of Conway Hall, out of the Speed Bowl mare Cheerful Yankee, and has now prevailed in eight of his last 10 appearances, including four successive victories.

The $25,000 first leg of the Mack Lobell Trotting Series will be held at Pompano on Monday, Feb. 18. The series continues with the $25,000 second leg on Feb. 25, and will culminate with the $100,000 final on March 3. (Pompano Park)

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